Top 5 Photogenic Places in Utah

Apr 25, 2016

By: Ann Whittaker

From June to August, you'll be swooning over lupine, bluebells, red paintbrush, columbine, penstemon, and more alpine flowers. And you're likely to see some Rocky Mountain goats, too. Add a river along the way and you've got yourself a photo studio that no technician could ever replicate.

Photography is just a covert operation--what you really want to do is bundle up in your favorite wool sweater, pack a picnic and rejoice over the first signs of reds, oranges and yellows up this perfectly charming canyon. And since it's just outside a college town, you'll catch the I-wish-I-could-go-back-to-school bug...until you're driving up the canyon and realize the students are sitting in class, stressed out about midterms, and you're driving up the canyon to take photos. Well played, well played.

The contrast. The contrast. The contrast. Snow on orange creamy hoodoos? It's just crazy. I mean, this is supposed to be the desert? Knock the socks off of your faithful fans when you wake up early for a sunrise over Thor's Hammer or Queen's Garden. And the amphitheater? No words. That's why you brought your camera.

Those pioneers planted more than apple orchards in the desert--they planted sheer beauty. Every March - early April, you can drive into the park and stop off in Fruita where you will see "popcorn popping" on the apple trees. You know the drill: wake early or stay out during sunset to get the most dramatic shots.

These salty flatlands with their dramatic mountains in the distance are gorgeously minimal all year long. Put a brightly clad model in the center, wait for a storm to leave behind reflective shallow pools or dress like you've just stepped into Mad Max and the end of the world is coming and you're going to write the next best-selling dystopian novel that will make everyone wish they were nicer and not so stinkin' greedy.